Shane Wright is the highest-ranked North American skater in the National League Scouting Bureau’s final standings for the draft.
Wright, a center for the Kingston Frontenacs, ranked eighth in the Ontario Hockey League with 94 points (32 goals, 62 assists) in 63 regular season games.
He has two goals and eight assists in six series games. The Frontenacs will begin their Eastern semi-final on Friday in North Bay.
Wright, of Burlington, Ont., would be the first Frontenacs player to be selected first in the draft.
The session will take place on July 7 and 8 at the Bell Centre. The Habs could choose there in the very first row.
Wright was also ranked first among North Americans in the midseason rankings.
The last OHL player to be selected No. 1 was Connor McDavid by the Oilers in 2015.
“Shane Wright has all the cards as an NHL prospect,” Dan Marr, director of NHL central scouting, said in a statement.
“He’s got top-level skating, with deceptive speed and quickness to beat defenders, dodge checks or lead an offense,” Marr said.
“He has top quality hockey sense with his vision, anticipation and composure to execute plays quickly.
“He’s proven he can be a leader when needed in game situations. »
Center Nathan Gaucher of the Remparts is the highest ranked player in the QMJHL, at 16th place.
Quebec is opposed to Chicoutimi in the first round of the playoffs, starting Thursday.
With Slafkovksy
Left winger Juraj Slafkovsky of TPS in Finland is ranked as the best international skater.
The Kosice, Slovakia native was second in the mid-season standings. The Olympics MVP, he led that tournament with seven goals, helping Slovakia to bronze. .
Slafkovsky could be the second Slovak chosen in the top 5 after Marian Gaborik (third in 2000, by the Wild).
Logan Cooley and Cutter Gauthier of the US Under-18 team are ranked second and third respectively in North American skaters.
Winnipeg’s Tyler Brennan, playing with Prince George in the WHL, is North America’s top-ranked goaltender.
He is followed by Ivan Zhigalov of the Phoenix. The Sherbrooke club will face the Drakkar starting Thursday, in the first round.
Finland’s Topias Leinonen has the distinction among goalkeepers around the world.
The final rankings include the top 224 skaters and 32 goaltenders in North America, as well as the top 140 skaters and 10 goaltenders internationally.